Legislature adjourns sine die, ending 2018 legislative session
The leadership's prediction that lawmakers would be home before Easter Sunday was accurate
John Knight
House passes bill to fund school security
Thursday, the Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill to provide a funding source for upgrading school security. Senate Bill 323 was sponsored by State Sen. Trip Pittman, R-Montrose, and carried in the House by State Rep. Bill Poole, R-Tuscaloosa. The bill would allow local school systems to tap the Education Advancement and Technology Fund … Continued
Alabama House OKs juvenile justice reform
Thursday, the Alabama House of Representatives passed a massive reform package of the troubled Alabama juvenile justice system. HB225 was sponsored by state Rep. Jim Hill, R-Odenville. Hill chairs the House Judiciary Committee and was the co-chair of the Juvenile Justice Task Force created by Gov. Kay Ivey. Hill is a retired judge in St. … Continued
House OKs bill to clarify consulting contracts by state legislators
By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter Tuesday, the Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill to try to clarify how legislators accept consulting contracts under Alabama’s 2010 ethics law. Some pundits have suggested that House Bill 387 is actually designed to weaken the existing ethics law. Sponsor state Rep. Rich Wingo, R-Tuscaloosa, argues that the … Continued
Bill to clarify the role of economic developers passes House
By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter Tuesday, the Alabama House of Representatives passed a controversial bill that specified that economic developers are not lobbyists. The House Bill 317’s sponsor is state Rep. Ken Johnson, R-Moulton. Johnson said that this bill is the Alabama Commerce Department’s. This bill has been widely panned in the media for … Continued
Upset: Burkette knocks off Knight in District 26 primary runoff
By Josh Moon Alabama Political Reporter In what could only be described as an upset, Montgomery City Councilman David Burkette has won the Democratic primary runoff for the District 26 seat in the Alabama Senate, knocking off longtime state Rep. John Knight. Knight was considered an overwhelming favorite and had easily bested a field of … Continued
Voters head to polls in special election runoffs in House District 4, Senate District 26
By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter Today, voters in State House District 4 and Senate District 26 go to the polls to select their legislators. Republicans go to the polls in House District 4 to decide between Tom Fredricks and Parker Moore in the GOP primary runoff. Fredricks is a resident and businessman in Priceville, … Continued
House passes education budget
By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter The Alabama House of Representatives passed the largest education trust budget in over 10 years unanimously on Tuesday. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey praised the House for its passage of the education budget and pay raises for education employees. “Today, the House of Representatives passed an education budget similar to … Continued
House passes 2.5 percent pay raise for education employees
By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter The Alabama House of Representatives voted to pass a 2.5 percent across-the-board pay raise for all current education employees. The bill, House Bill 174, was sponsored by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Poole, R-Tuscaloosa. Everyone supported the bill to give the teachers and state employees a pay … Continued
House passes bill to allow family therapists to diagnose mental illness
By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter Tuesday, the Alabama House of Representatives passed House Bill 166 allowing trained marriage and family therapists to diagnose mental illnesses. HB166 was sponsored by state Representative Randy Davis, R-Daphne. Rep. Davis said that the bill allows marriage therapists to diagnose and treat mental illness. It does not allow them … Continued